Sheet-feeding mechanism.



B. GESTAFSON.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION EILED JUNE 2, 1908.

$34,608. I Patented se ia. 21,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

jg y ww B. GUSTAFSON.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 190s.

Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

a m a W Z B. GUSTAFSON. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1908.

Patented Sept. 21, 1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E 97%;". fi rnkwrz Gi les @6070, Z5 M vw niairnii sTA'rEs riii rnnfr ca BERNHARD e'os'rarson, or Bosron MASSACHUSETTS.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM.

era-noes.

Application filed June 2, 1908.

parts.

This invention relates to a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheets of paper 111 succession from an automatic sheet Segregating device to a printing press or other machine for further acting upon or manipulatlng the sheets. In thus feeding the sheets at a high rate of speed,and at the same time present lliem. in perfect alinement with thepress-gagcs or similar devices. It is also desirable to check the speed of the sheet just 1 1 normal to the plane of the sheet-supportmg 4 before it reaches the'press gages in order to prevent buckling of the edge of the sheet.

the left-hand end of Fig. 2 joining on to the 1 riglit-l'iandend of Fig. 1. in succession it is necessary to convey them of the operating cams.

gether constitute aplan View With certa-ii'i grades of paper it is impossible to feed every sheet exactly alike, and

v to position them properly against the press gages. A small variation will frequently occur so that the sheet is not in perfect register'. It is planned to adjust and time the feeding mechanism so that the sheet at t end of its travel shall rest with its forwards end squarely against the press gages. lint I when caught in succession by the dchverv no matter how carefully this be done varia- .tions frequently occur.. In the present inventionthe mechanism may be so adjusted and timed as to stop the sheet either with its forward edge close to or against the press gages. The sheet isconveyed forward to either of those positions at a high rate, of speed and is then manipulated in such a v H i v Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 211, 190%.

Serial No. $36,213.

forward push to insure its the press gages.

T he invention will more fully appear from the. accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The. drawings, which show the preferred form of mechanism for embodying this invention, represent only so much of a sheetfeeding mechanism as is necessary to illustrate the invention, various parts of the mechanism being omitted for that purpo e In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 to constitute a side elevation of the mechai.

alinemcnt against Fig. 2" is a detail Figs. 3 and 4 toof the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the left-hand i I end of Flg. 4 oining on to the right-hand end of Fig. 3, and the views being taken ble B, and in which the individual sheets are rollsB and B are fed forward at disposed sticks manner as to insure the perfect alinement of I .to be either close to or a ainst the )ress \'e' vl11g devices momentarily to move the gages; the mechanism then actuates the consheet and secure its accurate alinement againstthe press gages. In the operation of the device, therefore, the sheet comes forwardat a high rate of speed, then comes to.

a complete stop. either close to or against the. pressgages andisthcn given alight i In this i being separated or combed out by a comb ing Wheel B the forward ends of the sheet passing up an inclined plane- B into thebight of delivery rolls B The sheets speed upon and are supported by the pm 13 and B until the forward ends of the sheets are caught in the. high-t of another pair of delivery rollsC The rolls C and are preferably driven at the I same surface speed as the rolls 13*, B and as soon as a sheet is cau ht by the former the cam B actuates the lever/B to elevate the roll B and release the rearward end of the sheet, which is thereupon controlled in. its delivery by rolls C ant C'. y

The main features of the invention have to do with the final delivery of the sheet from the last set of sheet feeding devices un til it-is brought against and alincd with the. gaging devices, such as the press gages D illustrated. The sheet. in the finalportion of its travel to the press gages D rests. upon lot) and is supported by the sticks B". The last set of sheet feeding devices is herein shown ascomprisingoppositely disposed feed rolls over idlers C mounted on the shaft C (1, C acting upon opposite sides of the sheet. The feed rolls 0 are mounted upon a shaft C journaled in the frame C, and

preferably carry endless tapes C running The upper rolls C are ournaled in arms C,

I projecting from the shaft C mounted in the upright C of the frame-work. The

shaft C is normally turned to cause the rolls C to be held yieldingly toward the rolls C by means of the spring C abutting against the depending arm C of the shaft, and the projection C from the frame, the spring being retained in position by a rod C fpivotally connected to said arm C and extending through the stud C 5. The rolls C are raised against the action of the spring C to release the sheet from the feeding action at the desired times, by the cam E,

'17 mounted on and driven from the shaft E which cam actuates a lever E connected at its upper end by a rod E to the upwardly projecting arm C of the shaft C In the construction shown the lower rolls C are positively rotated. This rotation is caused at the desired times by the -cam F mounted on and driven by the shaft E which acts against the lever F the said lever' being held up against the cam by the spring F similar in construction to the spring C already described. A rod F extends from the upper end of the lever F and is pivotally connected at F 5 to a rackbar F sliding on grooved rolls F and engaging-a pinion G, fast on a stub-shaft G I r the pawl will slide over the ratchet. The

gear G intermeshes with the pinion G fast.

to a gear G, and revolving on a stub-shaft projecting from the frame. The gear G in turn engages a pinion G fast on the shaft Cf. Hence, upon the reciprocation of the rack F toward the left the shaft C and with it the feed rollsC will be given a rotation in the direction of the arrow in Fig.2.

The mechanism is shown in the position in which it would be when a sheet conveyed forward by the rolls B and B presents its forward edge to the rolls C and C The shaft E rotates in the direction of the arrow shown on the cam F in Figs. 1 and 2. At this time as the sheet enters the rolls C and (If the rotation of the cam F swings the lever F rapidly outward causing through the connections already described a rapid rotation of the rolls C and G and the conse-' quent conveyance of the sheet at high speed down the inclined sticks B The parts are so adjusted that the front edge ofthe sheet is designed to stop eitherclose to or a ainst the press gage D, and the elevation i of the cam E is arranged to came against the lever E at this time, and through the intermediate connections already described raise the feeding rolls'O", thus separating the conveying devices at the same time during the action of the elevation E of the cam E, a concentric portion F of the cam F is acting on the, lever F so that the rotation of the feeding rolls isstopped. Thus the conveying action of the rolls upon the sheet ceases and it thereupon at once comes to rest. Immediately thereafter, upon the continued rotation ofthe shaft E the high portion F of the'cam F acting against the lever F gives a slight further conveying rotation of the rolls C and at the same time the depression E of the cam E, acting against the lever E allows the rolls C? to swing down into operative position for a moment. This last action of the conveying devices is momentary and gives a light push to the sheet, this light push being made more eifective by the tapes C already described. The result of this momentary and final propulsion of the sheet is to place the front edge of the sheet squarely up against the press gages and aline it correctly therewith.

Duringv the. usual side-registering of the sheet'and while the press grippers seize the. sheet, it is desirable to have the rolls C as well as the tapes C, stationary, so as to prevent any misplacement of'or rubbing against the sheet. This issecured by the ratchet mechanism already described which allows of the rotation of the gearG and consequently the rolls C in the forward or sheet conveying direction only. It will be seen that by meansl'of the construction already described the sheets are always underperfect control, and a perfect alinement of the sheets is secured against the press gages,

while at the same time the sheets are fed at a high rate of speed and in quick succession.

It will be noted that the frame-work C is pivotally'mounted inthe usual way about the shaft C so that it may be swung upwardly when desired. The other portions; of the structure it' is unnecessary to describe since they are not specifically involved in.

connection with this invention.

- Having described my-invention, what I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is: p

1. In a sheet feeding mechanism the com-- bination of sheet conveying devices, means for actuating them to convey the sheet forward until its front edge is close to or against the press gages, means for thereupon releasing the action of said devices upon the sheet, and means for thereupon actuating the said devices momentarily to 'act upon. the sheet and aline it against the press gages. 1

2. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combmation of sheet eonveylng devices acting uponthe opposite sides of the sheet. means for actuating. said devices to convey the sheet forward until its frontedge is close to or against the press gages, means for thereupon separating said devices to bring the sheet to rest, means for momentarily bringing together and actuating said devices to act upon the sheet and allne it against the press gages.

3. In a sheetfeeding mechanism the com bina'tion ofsheet conveying devices, means for actuating them to con'vey the sheetforward unt1l its front edge is close to or against the press gages, means for there'- upon stopping the action of said conveying devices, and means for thereupon momen tarily actuating the said devices to give a final movementto the sheet and aline it against the press gages.

4. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the commeans for actuating said rolls to convey the sheet forward until its front edge is 'close to or against the press gages, means for thereupon separating said rolls to release the sheet, means for thereupon momentarily bringing together. and actuating said rolls to act upon the sheet and allne it against the press gages, and means for preventing the backward rotation of the rolls.

to rest, and for then causing a slight continued rotation of said rolls.

7. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a shaft, conveying rolls mounted thereon, a pinion, a rack engaging said pinion, a train -of-gears connecting swid pinion with said shaft. a driving shaft, acam carried thereby. said cam presenting a long eccentric portion, a short eccentric portion, and an intermediate concentric portion, a lever o erated by the .said portions of the said cam, a connection between said lever and said rack whereby the rack is reciprocated to cause the rotation of the conveying rolls, for then bringing the said rolls to rest, and for then causing a slight continued rotation of said rolls. i

S. lna sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a shaft, conveying rolls mounted thereon, a pinion, arack engaging said pinion. a train of gears connecting said pinion with said shaft, a pawl and ratchet connection between said pinion and .said shaft whereby rotation in but one direction is communicated from said pinion to said shaft, a driving shaft, a cam carried thereby and presenting a long eccentric portion, a short eccentric portion, and an. intermediate concentric portion. means operated 'by the said portions of the said cam for causing I the reciprocation of said rack in a forward direction and the consequent forward rota-- tion of the conveying rolls, a subsequent bringing of the said rolls to rest, and a then subsequent slight continued forward rotation of said rolls. a

9. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of lower sheet feeding rolls and meansfor operating them,upper sheet. eonveying rolls, means for normally and yield ingly holding said rolls against the lower rolls, means for raising said upper rolls just prior to the final alinement of the sheet, and

means for thereafter momentarily lowering said rolls to act upon the sheet and aline it; 10. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the

combination of lower sheet conveying rolls,

a rock-shaft, upper sheet conveying rolls upon said rock-shaft, means for yieldin'gly holding said rock-shaft to depress the upper rolls against the lower rolls, a driving shaft, two cams mounted thereon, intermediate connections between one of said cams and the lower feed rolls whereby upon the rotation of the driving shaft a sheet conveying rotation is given to said rolls, intermediate connections between the other of said cams and said rock-shaft whereby the upper rolls are raised just prior to the final alinement of the sheet and,are then momentarily depressed to cause the final movement and alincmentof the sheet. i

11. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination of sheet conveying devices, means for actuating them to convey the sheet forward until its front edge is close to, or against the press gages, means for thereupon releasing the action of said devices upon the sheet, and means for thereupon actuating the said devices momentarily to act upon the sheet to rest, means or a ainst the ress a es means'for thereg P g g evices to bring the for momentarily bringing together and actuating said devices to act upon the sheet and aline it against the press gages, and means for thereupon again separating said devices tobring the sheet to upon separating sai rest, whereby opportunity is allowed for side registering or other devices.

13, In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination ofsheet conveying devices, means for actuating them to convey the sheet forward until its front edge is close to or against the press gages,

the actlon of said conveying demeans for thereupon stopping vices, means for thereupon momentarily actuating the said devices to give a final movement to the sheet and aline it against the press ages, and means for thereupon stopping t e action'of said conveying devices, whereby opportunity is allowed for side registering or other devices while the sheet is at rest. g

14. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of "'a shaft, lower conveying rolls mounted thereon, cooperating upper. conveying rolls, a drivingshaft, a cam carried by said drlving shaft, a lever engaging said cam. connections between said lever an to. rest, and to the lower conveying roll shaft, a second cam carried by and drivlng shaft, a second lever engaging said second cam, connections between said secondlever and said upper conveying rolls, whereby upon the rotation of the driving shaft the first, cam will act'to give a forward rotation to saidlower conveying rolls, to then bring the said rolls to rest, and to then causev a slight continued ro tation of said rolls, and a second cam will act to elevate the upper conveying rolls while the lower conveying rolls are at rest.

15. In *a sheet "feeding mechanism; the

combination of a shaft, lower. conveying rolls mounted thereon, coiiper'at ing upper conveying rolls, means for yielding'ly idepressing said upper conveying rolls against said lower conveying rolls,a'driving.,shaft,

a cam carried by said driving shaft, a lever engaging said cam, connections between said lever and the lower conveying roll shaft, a

second cam carried by said driving shaft, a'

second lever engagin said second cam, connections between said second lever and said rolls, whereby upon the roupper conveyin tatron ofthe act to ive a conveying rolls, to then bring the said rolls rotation of said rolls, and the second cam will act to elevate the upper conveying rolls while the lower conveying rolls are at rest.

driving shaft the first cam willforward rotation to said lower then cause a slight continued In testimony whereof, I have signedimy' name to thissp'eeification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAFSON. Witnesses:

MABEL PAR'rErLow, FREDERICK S. GREENLEAF. 

